Tutorial (2)
Tring—
{Tutorial Announcement}
-The Tower will hold a tutorial in a month. Please come to the Doors of the Tower.
"..."
I stopped in my tracks and started at the announcement.
Master might have also sensed that something came up as he stopped his sword as well.
"Master, it's here."
Sching—
He quietly sheathed his sword and turned back on me. He seemed to have gotten the hint.
"Come with me."
His voice was grim and down. I knew what he was feeling, as my mind was also going through the same sense of discomfort.
I followed him without asking anything.
***
The smell of the old wood tickled my nose as we opened the door of the small hut.
"So I am finally leaving…"
"...hm."
A dry reply.
"Here, take it."
Master laid out a mask, veiled by a darkness as the night sky, with strange, golden engravings on its left eye.
{Mask of the Blank}
-The mask will never come off until and unless the wearer takes it off.
-Grants ???'s Blessing.
--Provides unparalleled vision.
--Night vision.
-???
And an overcoat; dyed pure white.
{???'s Overcoat}
-90% damage reduction. (Restricted to 5%)
-Perfect temperature control.
-Blessing of the Tenacious God.
--Your strength grows with your tenacity.
"Wear these. These are the only things that my Master left with me. So, use them. This will be my gift."
"What?! How can I?!"
Why was he giving me something so important?!
"I never used it. I was not worthy of it. But you, you are. You are the only one worthy of my Master's leftovers."
Ba-dump!
It touched my heart.
I hung my head low, hiding my tear-filled eyes.
Master saved me when I was a helpless boy, wandering in the woods. I thought of using Master for my sake.
'But if he's like this…'
The tears I held in me desperately for so long finally broke free. As if a dam was broken, my eyes overflowed with hot tears. They streamed down my cheeks and dripped on the wooden floor beneath. I didn't raise my head. I couldn't have shown this pathetic side of mine to Master.
Thud!
"...!"
My head touched a warm and strong surface. A pair of arms held me in their warm embrace.
"You are my disciple going out into the vast world. I don't know your goals. I don't know what you have been through. But what matters is that you are my disciple."
His words echoed in my words, dropping down in the canals of ears for a long time.
A new experience.
Love and care.
I could not describe it. I could not understand it. I could not grasp it.
Before I knew it, my hands wrapped Master, my face buried in his gallant chest.
My tears fell and I sobbed like a baby in my Master's arms.
***
Four years had passed in an instant. And in those four years, Master had been my everything. He saved me, he taught me, he fed me, he took care of me, and he treated me like a person. In this snap of time, he became like a father to me.
And now… I was finally going out into the world.
"I suppose I have filled you in about the tutorial."
"Yes, Master."
The tutorial was divided into three parts. Each of the three parts had a purpose. The first part contributed to stats. The second part raised your mental power or Soul Power. The third part was a battle royale; kill everyone and be the last one standing or survive till the timer runs out.
'The last one is pretty specific.'
But according to the Master, the first two parts are different for every player except for the concept.
That would mean I didn't have any idea about the first two.
'Let's just trust me…'
I held the mask close to my face. It had amazing effects, but it was also concerning.
'???'s Blessing…'
Was it the same as the overcoat?
"Are you okay?"
Master seemed to have caught wind of my worries. I smiled at him.
"No, not at all."
I stuck the mask to my face. It was comfortable and cosy. With this, my identity was safe.
"I'll be off now, Master."
I bowed deeply, making sure to show the heartfelt gratitude I had for him.
"Right…"
He smiled at me faintly, with a pair of sad eyes. My heart couldn't help but quiver at the sight. I turned around, letting my Master watch my back.
"Phew… let's go."
***